Joined: 29 Sep 2004Posts: 1196Location: buried under a pile of books somewhere in Adelaide, South Australia

Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:44 pm Post subject:

i have been fortunate to have only had The Flu once in my life and that was almost one time too many. I get the occasional cold, but considering I work with sick people, that's not surprising.

When I was able to drag myself out of the house, I went shopping and bought almost every variety of chicken soup I could find in the supermarket. Those Jewish mamas know their comfort food!

And something I make at home is similar ...

A chicken breast marinated for a short time in garlic, ginger, mirin and soy sauce. Steam some rice and put the chicken on a plate covered with foil over the rice and steam it too. Serve with asian greens and spring onions.

Hope you're feeling better soon, Jen._________________Doing what you like is freedom
Liking what you do is happiness

I never feel like cooking anything when I'm sick and as I live alone, no-one else cooks for me either... so I usually order a Tom Yum soup from the Thai place down the road- the chilli clears the sinuses and the soup is warming and comforting.

I wonder what it is about soup that makes you feel better when you're sick- it seems to be a universal phenomenon.

Joined: 18 Oct 2004Posts: 1654Location: Within view of Elliot Bay, The Olympics and every ship in the Sound

Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 2:39 am Post subject:

I can't get it anymore because this particular item was chef specific. It was Hot and Sour soup made extra hot by Kwan at The Imperial Palace in my hometown. He used to try and push the limits of how spicy he could make my soup, and was always astonished when I wished him better luch next time. Whenever I had a cold I would send Phil in for a tankard of this soup, nothing makes me feel better like Kwan's soup._________________"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

I think most cultures have a version of Jewish chicken soup. I crave Pho soup when I'm feeling poorly but it is really hard to find in my 'hood. Here's an intersting piece on the history of Pho. It seems in Hanoi it was only eaten on Sundays or when you were sick.

Here's an interesting piece on the history of Pho. It seems in Hanoi it was only eaten on Sundays or when you were sick.

That's funny Barbara, things have changed now- pho is eaten at any time of the day but mostly at breakfast time. When I was sick in Vietnam my landlady used to make me chao (rice porridge) which was flavoured with a chicken or beef broth with fresh ginger- she swore by it.

My initial instinct was the Tom Yum soup, but hardly at Daredevilish B.T.U. heat, as the local joint tries to kill me on a regular basis with their version. I opted for the Yiddishe Version, bland, soft on the offended palate, and boosted with Bubbie's incantation, "Eaaaaaat.", it did alright for the two of us. Brian, bless his tongue, added Chipotle Tabasco and horseradish. I admire his spunk.

Leftover broth I am saving for that ginger-rice porridge! My Filipina nurses used to bring this into the lunchroom at work and I just went nuts over it. I coincidentally happen to have all the ingredients sitting in the icebox... WHOOPEE!!

(I might be milking this flu thing a little, but when it comes to soul food, it beats a pharmaceutical any day!)

May none of you become afflicted without the benefit of delivery Thai food!
Thanks for all your well wishes!

_________________There is only one way to die- With a full stomach and a good tan.

Actually....my family doctor (who is of German extraction) strongly recommends spicy food when you have the sniffles. He claims that ginger tea is a traditional German remedy for colds, but suggests spicy food of any sort is effective at getting all the mucous flowing. Seems to work.

I've thought about this issue carefully. Unfortunately for my response, I'm not sick right now and I've had to think myself into that state and say, what would help the most? It's beer. You might ask yourself, what does beer offer that chicken soup does not? Or, how can anyone drink beer to make themselves well if pho is available? You won't get an answer to either of those questions from me. Beer works because it soothes the throat, the bubbles calm my stomach, the alcohol makes my head feel better, and there's just enough nutritional value (150 calories per bottle). There's also solid statistical evidence that it works. Every time I've had a cold or flu and have medicated myself with beer, I've recovered._________________The goal is to fit it all in.

I can honestly say that your approach is way cool with me! You're getting hydrated, caloried and relaxed as well as a good NyQuil or cough syrup shooter (hey, any medicine that comes with its own shotglass gets my vote!). You're just having more fun than the rest of us!

Please, do share which brew you prefer, you know, for medicinal purposes!_________________There is only one way to die- With a full stomach and a good tan.